Dal Khalsa has urged non-resident Punjabis settled in the diaspora to discard the diatribe of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal against Sikh radicals during the NRI sammelan at Anandpur Sahib.

Dal Khalsa has urged non-resident Punjabis settled in the diaspora to discard the diatribe of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal against Sikh radicals during the NRI sammelan at Anandpur Sahib.

Terming it an attempt by Badal to regain his lost ground amongst Sikh diaspora, party's spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said Badal's statement reflects that he is aware of continued erosion of Akali Dal's position in Sikh diaspora due to his government's anti-Panthic stance and policies.

In all these past years, it is the Sikh diaspora, which has shown the mirror to the likes of Badal and others without fear or favour, he said.

"We are proud of their role and history will record their remarkable contribution," said Kanwarpal Singh, extolling the work of the diaspora during and after the uprising in the Punjab in 80s and 90s. Badal's statement was recognition of activities and influence of radicals amongst Sikh diaspora, he claimed.

In a sharp reaction to what Badal said, Kanwarpal wondered whether the alert and active Sikh diaspora should entertain the corrupt, the tainted and other degenerated politicians of his regime.

Kanwarpal Singh claimed it was failure of Badal and his son to make inroads into Sikh circles in the diaspora that had turned them into a frustrated lot.

Listing three main reasons behind Badal's tirade against radicals, he said firstly Badal was nurturing hatred and vendetta against radicals from the days of uprising in Punjab. Secondly, it was due to radicals that his son and deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had to cancel his trip to Canada recently. Thirdly, it was radicals' impressive influence in foreign lands that Badal's protégé and DSGMC head Manjit Singh GK had to face tough times in UK last year.

He praised Pakistan MLA Ramesh Singh Arora for giving Badal a piece of advice to talk with radicals to sort out differences and address the contentious issues.

"It would be interesting to watch whether Badal pays any heed to this sensible voice," he said.